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2 Sheets- Sheet 1.

R. B. PERKINS. MACHINE FOR FORGING HAMMERS.

No. 18,408. Patented Oct. 13, 1857.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. B. PERKINS. MACHINE FOR PORGING HAMMERS.

No. 18,408. Patented Oct. 13, 1857.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUSSELL B. PERKINS, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

MACHINE FOR MAKING HAMMERS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 18,408, dated October 13, 1857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUSSELL B. PERKINS, of Meriden, county of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of Hammers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being made to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, which are fully described herein, and in which similar letters indicate similar parts throughout.

My improvement consists chiefly in a method of so operating a series of dies, formers and forging tools, that a complete hammer is worked out of bar or rod of metal with great rapidity and exactness.

My machine is constructed and operated as follows: A strong frame is erected, as shown at A, forming the sides, between and upon which the several operative parts are suspended and worked. Near the front end are placed two roclcshafts upon which are the formers, dies &c., being the upper and (7)) the lower of said shafts. These terminate at the ends in strong ournals, which latter play in pillow-blocks upon the main frame A. Motion is given to the two rock-shafts simultaneously by their being connected to one reciprocating cross-head. Two arms (0 and Z2) are cast upon the shafts, from which lateral braces extend to increase their stiffness, as shown in Fig. IV. From the tops of said arms, connecting rods (0, (Z) extend to and are fastened upon the cross-head B, Figs. I, II, III. The inner faces of the rock-shafts are made flat and fitted to receive and have secured upon them the various forming and shaping tools necessary. These tools are capable of being taken off and changed for others, according as the patterns or shapes and sizes of the hammers are varied.

In Fig. IV an end View of the frame is given with the rock-shafts canted over so as to show the order and arrangement of the said tools and formers, and from Figs. V to XII inclusive are sections of said rock shafts through each separate tool, and these are represented by the letters (6, e, f, f, g, g, h, h, 2', z", 70, 70, Z, Z, m, m,) on igs. IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI and XII.

About midway of the frame is a strong crank C, Fig. I, the shaft of which lies across and is supported by the side pieces of the frame, The revolution of this crank gives motion to all the other parts. From it a shackle-bar (0') extends to and is connected with the cross-head B by a peculiar arrangement for coupling and uncoupling without stopping the cranks motion. The principal cross-head B is a kind of frame, the side pieces of which move on slides B Figs. II and III. On the inside of this frame or principal cross-head there are two other slides, shown on one side at in the section Fig. I, and at (n) is a second crosshead to which the shackle-bar (0) is attached the ends of which play in these slides (12). The great cross head B has two engaging and disengaging hooks seen at (0) Fig. I, partly in dotted lines, a hook being on either side of the rod (0) and so as to be capable of hooking on to the cross-head (n). IVhen thus engaged, both cross-heads, viz, ('a) and B, move together; but when the hooks are raised B is thereby disengaged, and the cross-head ('n) then merely plays back and forth upon its slides (a). To engage or disengage these there is a fixture, shown at (p), which is a kind of latch attached to the shaft or axis (79) of the hooks. \Vorking against the latch (p) there is a lever at (q) aflixed to the main frame of the machine worked by a handle at (9) at the front part of the machine, and at (1') is a post also upon the main frame having a catch to take into a similar one in the latch. 'When the catch in the latch (p) is engaged in that on (1") the hooks (0) are disengaged from the cross-head (n') and the other crosshead B is then at rest. The operator will engage the hooks (0) by pulling down the handle (9); this causes the lever (g) to press against the latch (p) and throw it out of (r) the hooks (0) will then be permitted to drop and engage on the cross-head (11/), and thus the whole will be set in motion. To disengage, let go of the handle (9) and this will allow the lever (g) to be drawn back by its recoil spring. The latch (p) is carried back and forth with the cross-head B, and therefore cannot engage in the notch in (1*) except at one part of the stroke viz: as represented in Fig. I. There is a spring which acts against the upper end of (p) to keep that always pressing toward (1'). As the end (p) is being drawn along the notch drops down and finally engages in (4). On the return stroke, as the latch cannot rise, it acts to turn the shaft (39) and thus to lift the hooks (0). and the disengagement is thereby effected, the cross-head B then remaining stationary at the spot where it was uncoupled. The cross-head B only operates the rocleshafts (a, 22,) but there is a second rock-shaft resting upon the top posts at the front end of the frame, shown at (s) in the several figures, which is kept'constantly in vibration so long as the crank C revolves, the motion being taken either directly from the crank or from the cross-head (12) by a rod (8'), as shown. By means of the play of this latter shaft a set of cutting shears and punching tools are operated. These are moved by arms so secured to the ends of the rock-shaft (s) that they may be coupled and uncoupled at pleasure, and are seen at 2f) The eye in the arms fits upon a circular head on the overhanging ends of (a) at (t) Figs. I and IV, and shown also in the dotted line Fig. II. Each of these heads have notches cut in their rims, into which the ends of keys attached to the arms (15) and shown at (u) can drop. Thus whenever these keys are in the notches just described the arms (6) are engaged and made to vibrate with the same vibration as the rockshaft (8). There is a locking and unlocking apparatus shown at (25), Figs. I and IV, being a slide upon the top of the upright posts which hold the shaft (.9), and on the inner end of this there is an inclined plane which lies against the side of the pin (a), from which pin there is a projecting stud (25), Figs. I and IV, which rests upon said inclined plane. Now by pressing down the handle (27) the slide (25) is drawn toward the center of the frame, and the inclined plane taken from under the pin (u') which allows the locking pin (a) to drop and engage in the notch in the circular head ti). On pushing the slide back again the pin (24) will strike first on the lower side of the inclined plane, and as the rock-shaft moves will cause the pin to pass along its surface, in doing which, the locking pin (it) will be raised, and finally lifted clear of the notch in (25), and thus the disengagement effected. Each arm (25) is connected with a strong slide piece (1)) which plays in vertical guides, and thus by the vibrations of the arms a vertical reciprocating motion is communicated to them.

At (12), Figs. II and IV, is a pair of shears, the movable cutter of which is con nected with the bottom of one of the slides,

as shown, and there is also connected to this same slide a tool for giving the finishing shape to the eye-hole and the claw of the hammer. On the bed immediately under the slide, and so as to be in range for receiving the action of the finishing tool, is a metal block of the form of the outer face of ahammer, as shown at (to) Figs. II and IV, and as seen detached at Fig. II A, wherein is also seen the finishing tool acting upon a hammer head. The opposite slide carries the punch for punching the eye, as seen at (10). There is on the bed below this, a guide for setting the blank to receive the punch always at the right place, and also a stripper-guard above, to strip off the iron from the punch as in many contrivances.

The operation is as follows: In the first place a blank is cut off to a proper length for the rod while red hot, by the shears (o), the slide (2;) being put in operation by engaging with the top rock shaft It is then taken to the table upon the opposite side of the frame and placed in a gage (29) Figs. IV, and the eye punched out. From this it is taken and turned over to receive the action of the tool (79) which is a punch upon a handle, shown separately in Fig. XIII and the blank is retained upon this for the purpose of being handled through some of the succeeding stages of the manufacture. The attendant new sets in motion the rock shafts (a, 2),) by throwing the cross-head B into coupling with the crank by means of the mechanism before described. This is done by moving the handle (g), which for greater convenience may be connected with a treadle, thus leaving the hands disengaged. The blank is now submitted to the action of the first pair of tools on the rock shafts, being those at (e, 6); These are blocks exposing fiat surfaces so that, as the rock-shafts vibrate, said surfaces are made to approach and recede; as the eye is punched in the blank, the act of punching causes the sides of the blank to be bulged out; and to restore the shape the blank having the tool (79) still in the eye, is to be first put between the forming plates (6) and (e) and is by that means reduced to an approximate size in one direction only. It is then submitted to the action of the next tool which rounds the end forming the poll or head of the hammer, the effect being to squeeze themetal together and is in lieu of hammering it at the forge; by this means the square shape of the bar is partially rounded by squeezing down the corners, the operation of the tool being separately illustrated in Fig. VI. The hammer is now knocked off from the punch and the other end is presented to the next tool in order. This consists of two pieces showing two rounded surfaces standing in the. position shown at (g g) in Fig. VII whereby as the iron is presented to their action it is mashed down into a wedge like form preliminary to forming the claw part, and as more fully illustrated by the detached section Fig. VII. Another heat is now given and the blank brought to the next tool (h; 72.). This is similar to the last except that their curved surfaces do not coincide, the under one being set a little back on the rock shaft. This tool effects the drawing down of the wedge to the proper length and shapes it for forming the claw. The next tool splits the claw open; the lower part of this has a rounded circular face with a fiat axial shaped plate at the crown out of which a pin rises, the upper one has the cutting tool and to keep the hammer head. firm it is held by the pin passing into the eye, and thus as the rock shafts roll over the blank is compelled to receive the cutting edge of the upper tool. The hammer head now roughly approximates to the proper shape, the next tool is to give it a squeeze throughout its length and set it, as it were, in a curve proper for the claw. This is shown at (is is) and in the detached View Fig. X where the'hammer is shown as receiving its action. The tool (Z Z) is for a similar purpose but slightly varied in shape. on the flat sides of the claws, but these claws are now to be brought into shape. This is done by the shaping tool, shown at (m m) and detached in Fig. XII. As the claw part had become much spread by the wedging and splitting tools these are now to be brought to the right position and curve by the pressure of the tools (m m) as shown in Fig. II. During the various forms of pressure put upon the blank as it passes through the differently shaped too-ls the eye hole first punched out becomes misshapen and the cut for the claw has yet to be still further finished. As is well known, the V shaped cut is not throughout of the same width or length, the inside being more open and with tapering sides so as to enable the claw to take in the heads of nails. The finishing stroke is given on a table outside of the main frame shown at (w) Figs. II and IV. Here is a metal bed piece shaped like the outside face of the hammer.

The hammer head is laid upon this as shown in the detached view Fig. II A. A peculiarly shaped tool consisting of a punch or mandrel of the shape of the intended eye hole, and of a wedged shaped cutter and as shown at a: and (w) is placed in the slide (2)) which plays up and down vertically over the table. The mandrel is forced into the misshapen eye forming it into correct shape, while the wedge presses down the inside of the claw and finishes it likewise. After the hammer has received the action of the tool just described it is to be put sidewise between the tool (m m), Fig. XII here the curx e and general outline of the two edges or sides are brought into correct shape. And the head finished by returning it once more to receive an impression from the tool (7? and is) on the face and inside and as shown in Fig. X. The blank is then ready for the grind stone. and polishers.

. Difi'erent forms of hammers are made by varying the shape of the forming and forging tools or the rock shafts, or omitting some.

I claim-- 1. Arranging in the manner herein described, the principal parts of a machine for forging hammers that is to say placing the rock shafts (0;) and (1)) (upon which formers or dies are disposed in lateral series) at one end of the frame A, and in the relative position herein specified to the rockshaft (8), (which operates the shearing cutting and punching apparatus) in combination with the double cross-head B and (n) placed at the reverse end of the frame A and deriving its motion from the crank C.

2. I also claim the pin so constructed and arranged in relation to the sliding plate (25") and lever (t) that it will lock or unlock the rockshaft (s) to or from the collar (t) when required.

3. I also claim the combined cross heads B and (n) when so constructed and arranged that the cross head (n') may work in connection with the cross head B, or separately within said B as set forth.

4:. I also claim the herein described contrivance for coupling or uncoupling the two crossheads B and (n) without stopping the crank motion viz: combining the shaft (p) of the two engaging and disengaging hooks (0) with the latch (p) the catch (1") and the lever (g) the whole being constructed arranged and operated substantially in the manner set forth herein.

RUSSELL B. PERKINS.

Witnesses:

J. P. PINSSON, S. H. MAYNARDS. 

